Multiple orifice glue applicator



Jan. 17, 1967 H. w. HUFFMAN 3,298,353

MULTIPLE ORIFICE GLUE APPLICATOR Filed Sept. 5, 1965 FIG-'2 42 4a INVENTOR. HAROLD w. HUFFMAN ATTOR N EY S cleaning or adjustment, and simple and United States Patent 3,298,353 MULTIPLE ORIFICE GLUE APPLICATOR Harold W. Hufiman, Hamilton, Ohio, assignor to The Hamilton Tool Company, Hamilton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Sept. 3, 1963, Ser. No. 306,224 21 Claims. (Cl. 118-411) The present invention relates to a multiple orifice glue applicator, such as may be employed in applying lines or stripes of liquid glue to one or both faces, at selected 10- cations, of a moving sheet or web.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple yet effective applicator for attachment to a machine such as a collator, for applying lines or stripes or liquid glue to a moving sheet or web.

Another object of the invention is to provide a glue applicator effective to apply stripes or lines of glue to opposite faces of a moving sheet or web, at selected locations thereon.

p to controlling the application of glue stripes upon a web,

as to avoid undesirable soiling and smearing of the handling equipme'nt'with excess glue.

A further object is to provide an applicator of the character mentioned, which is compact, easy to attach and detach from existing web handling equipment for inexpensive to manufacture.

The foregoing and other objects are attained by the means described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an applicator embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the same.

FIG. 3 is a front elevation showing a web passing through the applicator.

FIG. 4 is a rear elevation of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line I 55 of FIG. 3, and showing the applicator attached to a glue supply pipe.

FIG. 6 is a cross-section taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is a cross-section taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 6, the moving we'b being omitted.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

In the drawing, W indicates a sheet or web of material such as paper for example, movable continuously in one direction at high speed. It is sometimes necessary or desirable to apply to one or both faces of the web, a stripe or line of liquid glue or the like while the web is in motion, usually at a high linear speed. In some instances, the line or stripe of material may desirably be applied to the web at a greater or lesser distance from a side edge of the web, and this is made possible in the design and construction of the instant applicator.

The applicator primarily is in the form of an initially solid block of metal or other suitable material, shaped to provide an elongate sleeve portion 10 having a chamber or elongate bore 12 to receive the cylindrical end 14 of a supply pipe 16 delivering glue or other liquid to the applicator. The supply pipe may be reduced in diameter where it fits the sleeve portion of the applicator,

3,298,353 Patented Jan; 17, 1967 ICC thereby to provide an annular shoulder 18 adapted to bear against a ring gasket 20 preventing leakage of liquid from the end 22 of the sleeve bore.

At its terminal end 24, the reduced section of the supply pipe may carry a screw-threaded stud 26 which passes through an end opening 28 of sleeve portion 10, to receive a nut 30 whereby thesleeve portion is detachably secured to the supply pipe. Removal of the single nut 30 is all that is required for disconnecting the applicator from the supply pipe for cleaning.

Supply pipe 16 and its reduced section 14 are provided with ablind bore 32 terminating at wall 34 and intermediate said wall and the shoulder 18 there is provided a plurality of openings or outlets 36 and 38 arranged transversely of the supply pipe at different distances from end 24. Pressurized glue or other liquid flowing in the direction of the arrows on FIG. 5, may enter the outlets 36 and 38 as is apparent.

Extending laterally from sleeve portion 10, and partly overlying the supply pipe 16, is a head section 40 to be referred to as the. lower section of the applicator head, said lower section 40 being overhung by an upper head section 42. The upper head section is spaced from the lower head section as shown in FIG. 1, to accommodate the travelling web. An upstanding neck 44 which may be integral with headsections 40 and 42, maintains the spaced relationship of the head sections. The intervening space between the head sections may be considered the throat 46 of the applicator head. In practice, the throat may be provided by milling a slot in the head parallel to the axis of sleeve portion10. The throat accommodates one side margin of the travelling web.

In order to convey fluid from the supply pipe to the upper and lower sections of the applicator head, a network of holes is drilled in the block constituting the applicator. Some of the holes are plugged, and others are provided with nozzle elements which may be interchanged with removable plugs to establish desired points of fluid discharge.

Nozzle tips are indicated at 48 and 50, and each nozzle element may comprise in addition to the tip, an externally threaded plug-shaped body 52 turned intermediate its ends to provide an annular channel 54. Channel 54 is adapted to register with a fluid supply passageway, so that fluid from a passageway may enter a transverse opening 56 within channel 54, which opening communicates with the tip and feeds fluid thereto as the fluid emerges from the tip to coat the travelling web. The nozzle elements may have socket heads 58 (FIG. 1) to receive a Wrench for unscrewing the nozzle element and removing it. In some instances a nozzle element removed may be replaced by a screw-threaded plug 60, similarly provided with a socket head or other means for application of a tool to rotate the plug.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that nozzle element 52 may be interchanged with the plug such as 60, to alter the location at which fluid will be applied to the web. Also, a plug 60 may be substituted for a nozzle element, to eliminate application of fluid to the web at the area of substitution.

Nozzle tip 50-, according to FIG. 5, may have direct communication with supply pipe outlet 36, for applying fluid to the under face of web W. The web so coated at 50 passes on through throat 46, where a transverse channel 62 provided in the lower section of the applicator head, provides relief under the coating to preclude wiping off the coating applied by nozzle tip 50. This of course, assures maintenance of a clear head and throat,

:screw 66 may be provided. Plug screw 66 may threadedly engage a tapped hole 68 extending transversely of bore 64, which it intersects, so that bore 64 and nozzle 50 may be closed by advancing the plug screw to the base 70 of bore 68.

In order to supply fluid to the nozzle member 52 in the upper section 42 of the applicator head, a hole 72 may be drilled from the rear of the lower head section, to intersect the outlet 38. Then another hole 74- may be 'drilled from the end face 76 of the lower head section to intersect hole 72, this bringing the fluid as far as the neck 44. Another hole 78 may then be drilled from the top of upper head section 42 downwardly to intersect hole 74; and finally, a hole 80 is drilled lengthwise of upper head section 42 to intersect hole 78, the final hole 80 being closed at its point of starting by a plug 82.

The point of drilling for hole 72 is closed by a plug ti l; that of hole 74 is closed by a plug 86; that of hole 78 is closed by a plug 88; and that of hole 80' is closed by the plug 82. By the above described network of drilled holes, fluid from the supply pipe is conveyed to the nozzle element 52 and plug 60, which latter may be replaced by a nozzle element similar to 52, if desired. A channel 90 similar to channel 62 may be provided in the upper face 92 of head section 40, to perform as does channel 62 to preclude wiping of fluid from the web as the latter progresses through throat 46. 7

As indicated by FIGS. and 6, the web W is subject to slight distortion wherever it passes over or under a nozzle tip, this being due to pressure of fluid discharging from the nozzle onto the web face. The indicated distortion of the web should be taken into account in establishing the depth of channels 62 and 90', and in determining the height of the throat between the upper and lower head sections 40 and 42. In FIG. 6 for example, channel 62 is made sutficiently deep to overcome any tendency of the force at nozzle tip 48 to depress against the lower section of the head, the coating applied by nozzle 50. s

In conclusion, it is noted that the device of the invention has no expensive moving parts subject to wear or maladjustment, and that long periods of uninterrupted service and reliability of operation are assured. The de vice moreover is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and maintain.

It is to be understood that various modifications and changes may be made in the structural details of the device, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An applicator for applying fluid substance to a web moving continuously in one direction, comprising in combination, a body having a chamber for receiving fluid substance under pressure from a source of supply, said body having a head formed with a throat through which a web moves, plural nozzle means carried by the body and head in communication with said chamber and positioned to simultaneously apply a stripe of fluid upon upper and lower faces of the web in its passage through said throat, said nozzles means for applying the fluid to the lower face of the web being upstream from the other nozzle with respect to the direction of travel of the work and means within the throat for maintaining the stripe applied to the lower side of the web free of contact with an underlying part of the body as the web moves through the throat.

2. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said plural nozzle means are aligned in the direction of movement of the web, and means is provided for relocating one nozzle means laterally of its alignment with the other nozzle means, for applying the stripe of fluid substance at a predetermined distance from a marginal side of the web.

3. The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said plural nozzle means are aligned in the direction of movenient of the web, and means is provided for relocating that nozzle means applying the stripe of fluid upon the upper face of the web laterally of its alignment with the other nozzle means.

4. An applicator for applying fluid substance to a web moving continuously in one direction, comprising in combination, a body having a main chamber for receiving fluid substance under pressure from a source of supply, an applicator head carried by said body and having a slot forming a throat through which a side margin of the web advances, the slot having opposed faces, a first nozzle member having fluid communication with the body chamber and including a tip positioned to direct fluid substance as a stripe toward and upon oneface of the moving web margin in advance of the throat, and a second nozzle member in fluid communication with the body chamber and. including a fluid applying tip within the throat projecting from one of said throat faces and positioned to direct fluid substance toward and to stripe the opposite face of the web margin with fluid substance as the web advances through the throat. s

5. The combination as set forth in claim 4, wherein the throat is provided with a channel in the other one of the said faces thereof extending in the direction of ad vancement of the web, and over which channel one stripe of fluid substance advances out of contact with the head, the width of the channel exceeding the width of said one stripe.

6. An applicator for applying fluid substance to a web moving continuously in one direction, comprising in combination, a body having a main chamber for receiving fluid substance under pressure from a source of supply, an ap plicator head carried by said body and having a slot forming a throat through which a side margin of the web advances between spaced surfaces thereof, a first nozzle member having fluid communication with the body cham= ber and including a tip positioned exteriorly of the throat for directing fluid substance as a stripe upon one face of the moving web, and a second nozzle member in fluid communication with the body chamber, including a tip discharging into the throat for directing fluid substance to stripe the opposite face of the web margin with fluid sub= stance as the web advances through the throat.

7. The device as set forth in claim 6, wherein a sur= face of the throat is provided with means spacing from contact with the head, that portion of the web face which carries the stripe applied thereto by the first nozzle mem= ber.

8. An applicator for applying fluid substance to a Web moving continuously in one direction, comprising in com bination, a body having a main chamber for receiving fluid substance under pressure from a source of supply, said chamber having a pluralityof outlets for fluid sub stance, an applicator head carried by and projecting above a top surface of said body, the head having a slot forming a throat through which the web advances across said top surface of the body, and a passageway having terminal ends, one such end terminating within the throat, and the other terminal end being in fluid communication with one of the main chamber outlets, a first nozzle member in fluid communication with a remaining outlet and positioned to apply fluid substance as a stripe upon one face of the web as the web advances across said top surface of the body, and a second nozzle member in fluid communication with that terminal end of the head passageway which terminates in the throat, ,for directing fluid substance to stripe the opposite face of the web as the web advances through the throat.

9. The device as set forthin claim 8, wherein the throat is provided with means suspending within the. throat that port-ion of the web face which carries the stripe applied thereto by the first nozzle member. A

10. An applicator for applying fluid substance in stripes upon aweb moving continuously in one direction,

comprising in combination, an applicator body having a main bore, a supply pipe havin'g'a portion fitted in said bore fordischarging fluid substance under pressure into said" bore, and means detachably securing the body to said supply pipe, said pipeand said body having-registering openings therein to convey fluid substance delivered by the pipe, an applicator head on the body comprising a lower "section, an upper section, and an upstanding connecting neck maintaining said sections in spaced parallelism to provide a throat accommodating the travelling web, said'neck and said upper section being provided with connecting inner bores constituting a paslower section, an upper section, and abonnecting'hieck -maintaining said sections spaced apart to provide a throat accommodating the travelling web, said neck and said the other 'of-said'ends terminating inthe. upper head 'section'at the'throat,- to direct fluid substance downwardly into the throat and upon the upper face'of the web therein, anozzle member mounted upon the applicator body outside the limits of the throat and in the sageway having opposite terminal ends, one of said endsv being influicl communication'with one of said body openings at the supply pipe, and the other of said ends terminating in the upper head sectionto direct fluid substance downwardly into the throat and upon the upper face of the travelling web, a nozzle member mounted upon the applicator body outside the limits of the throat and in the path of advancement of;the web, said nozzle member being in fluid communication with a second opening atthe supply pipe, and the mounting of said nozzle member being such as to direct the fluid substance upwardly onto the lower face of the web in stripe form as the web advances over the nozzle member.

11. An'applicator for applying fluid substance in stripe form upon a web moving continuously in one direction, comprising in combination, an applicator body having a main bore, a supply pipe having a portion fitted in said bore' for carrying fluid substance under pressure into said bore, and means detachably securing the body to the supply pipe, said pipe and said: body having registering openings therein to convey fluid substance delivered by the pipe, an applicator head on the body comprising a lower section, an upper section, and a connecting neck maintaining said sections spaced apart to provide a throat accommodating the travelling web, said neck and said upper section being provided with interconnecting inner bores constituting a passageway having opposite terminal ends, one -of said ends being in fluid communication with one of said body openings at the supply pipe, and the other of said ends terminating inthe upper head section at the throat, to direct fluid substance downwardly into the throat and upon the upper face of the web therein, a nozzle inember mounted upon the applicator body outside the limits of the throat and in the path of advancement of the web, said nozzle member being in fluid communication with a second opening at the supply pipe, and the mounting of said nozzle member being such as to direct the fluid substance upwardly onto the lower face of the web in stripe form as the web advanced over the nozzle member, and a channel formed in the lower section of the head within the confines of the throat and extending in the direction of web advancement, the channel being aligned with the stripe applied by the nozzle member, whereby the applied stripe passes through the throat over the channel and out of contact with the lower section of the head.

12. The device as set forth in claim 11, wherein the terminal end of the passageway in the upper section of the head includes a branch passageway terminating within the throat at a location spaced from the nozzle member aforesaid, to accommodate alternatively a closure plug or an additional nozzle member.

13. An applicator for applying fluid substance in stripe form upon a web moving continuously in one direction, comprising in combination, an applicator body having a main bore, a supply pipe having a portion fitted in said bore for carrying fluid substance under pressure into said bore, and means detachably securing the body to the supply pipe, said pipe and said body having registering openings therein to convey fluid substance delivered by the pipe, an applicator head on the body comprising a path of advancement of the-web, said nozzle member being in fluidcommunication with asecond opening at thesupply pipe, and the mounting of said nozzlemember being such as to direct the fluid substance upwardly onto the lower face of'the web in stripe form as the web advances over the nozzle memberpand means suspending within the throat that areaof the lower web face which is striped with fluid substance. Y 1

14. The device as set forth in claim 13, wherein the body member, the head sections, and the connecting neck are formed from a single block of metal.

15. An applicator structure for applying fluid substance in stripe form to a web movable continuously in one direction, comprising in combination, an integral unitary structure including a body portion having a main chamber for receiving fluid substance under pressure from a source of supply, an applicator head portion rising above said body portion and including an upper and a lower head section spaced apart to provide a throat through which the web advances, a first nozzle member on the body portion having fluid communication with said body charnber for directing fluid substance as a stripe upon one face of the movable web, and a second nozzle member in fluid communication with said chamber and discharging into the throat for applying a stripe of fluid substance to the opposite face of the web, said body portion and said head portions being formed from a single body of material.

16. Apparatus for applying fluid substance in stripes upon opposite surfaces of a web moving in one direction, said apparatus comprising a body having a bore therein open at one end, a pipe for supplying fluid substance under pressure to said bore and having a closed end portion fitting in said bore, the pipe having side outlet openings in said end portion registering with inlet openings in said body, said body having a top surface, an applicator head integral with and rising above said surface, said head being offset from one side of the body, said head having a slot therein substantially parallel with said top surface and open at a side in the longitudinal direction of the bore and forming a throat for receiving a marginal portion of a web traveling in one direction across said surface, one of said inlet openings having a nozzle tip therein projecting upwardly from said surface and located in advance of the approach side of said throat slot of a web moving through the throat, to apply a stripe of fluid to the underside of the web, a nozzle element carried by said head above the throat slot and having a fluid substance discharge tip projecting downwardly into the throat slot to apply a stripe of fluid substance to the top side of the web, and conduit means leading from the other one of said inlet openings to said nozzle element.

17. Apparatus as defined by claim 16, wherein said.

said top and extends downwardly and communicates with said conduit and opens downwardly into said throat slot,

with a removable closure plug in said second boreblocking passage of fluid substance into the second bore, said nozzle element and said closure plug being adapted to and intersecting said one of saidinlet openings having said nozzle tip therein, and plug. means adjustablyvinserted in thelast mentioned body bore and adapted for adjustment to a position for, interrupting flow ,of fluid material from the conduit to, the adjacent nozzle tip;

p 20. Apparatus as defined by claim. .,16,1wherein said end portion of said fluid supply pipe is externally reduced in diameter whereby is'for'med a shoulder having opposed relationship with a surface of the body, a seal means between said shoulder and said opposed body surface, and

coupling means between said closed end of the pipeand the body adapted to draw said end of the pipe into the first mentioned bore and compress said se'ali.means.-

21. Apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said coupling. means consists of a threaded. stud carried by {and projecting fromthe said closed end of said pipe and extending through an apertureinthe body at the inner end of the first mentioned bore and 'a nut threaded on said stud and bearing against the adjacent outer'side of the body. v

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES- PATENTS 1,320,550 11/1919 Higgins l18 4 l2 2,419,132 4/1947 Friedman 118316 x 3,081,213' 3/1963 Chinn 1- 11s 1 3,135,628 6/1964 Johnson 61111, 118 3 ,FOREI'GN PATENTS 338,916 3/1936 Italy.

CHARLES Ad-WlLLMUTH, Primary Examiner. v

" J. P. MCINTOS H, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN APPLICATOR FOR APPLYING FLUID SUBSTANCE TO A WEB MOVING CONTINUOUSLY IN ONE DIRECTION, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, A BODY HAVING A CHAMBER FOR RECEIVING FLUID SUBSTANCE UNDER PRESSURE FROM A SOURCE OF SUPPLY, SAID BODY HAVING A HEAD FROMED WITH A THROAT THROUGH WHICH A WEB MOVES, PLURAL NOZZLE MEANS CARRIED BY THE BODY AND HEAD IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID CHAMBER AND POSITIONED TO SIMULTANEOUSLY APPLY A STRIP OF FLUID UPON UPPER AND LOWER FACES OF THE WEB IN ITS PASSAGE THROUGH SAID THROAT, SAID NOZZLES MEANS FOR APPLYING THE FLUID TO THE LOWER FACE OF THE WEB BEING UPSTREAM FROM THE OTHER NOZZLE WITH RESPECT TO THE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL OF THE WORK AND MEANS WITHIN THE THROAT FOR MAINTAINING THE STRIPE APPLIED TO THE LOWER SIDE OF THE WEB FREE OF CONTACT WITH AN UNDERLYING PART OF THE BODY AS THE WEB MOVES THROUGH THE THROAT. 